Doing Business in Emerging Economies

Bachelor 2021/2022

Type: Elective course (Business Administration)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 4 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Sergei Shaposhnikov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 30

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Emerging economies play an increasingly important role in the world economy and constitute very significant consumer markets and investment sites for international business. To be a successful business leader, students need to have a solid understanding of the operating environment in emerging markets and related business opportunities and risks. The course covers the fundamentals of global strategy and provides the review of the following topics: motivation for international expansion, strategies for global value creation, location strategy, timing of entry and foreign entry modes. The course focuses on the major emerging markets, including, but not restricted to, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, the Arab countries and African countries. The course provides a big picture overview of the business framework in these markets along with a focus on both challenges and opportunities. In studying key business, political, economic, social, financial and cultural characteristics of some emerging market countries, students will recognize regional differences and be able to realize opportunities by adopting relevant business strategies. Additionally, the course is aimed at the awareness formation of Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS) so students could have an ERS mindset and skills toolkit to establish business presence and operate successfully in foreign markets. The course includes experiential exercises, case studies, and presentations where students are expected to apply their business knowledge to tackle doing business in emerging markets issues with a critical eye and a cross- disciplinary approach.

Learning Objectives

to understand emerging markets and their characteristics;
to identify the main differences and similarities that characterize emerging economies;
to analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging economies;
to describe the institutions of emerging economies that are relevant to managers and how they work;
to explore distinct strategy options for emerging economies;
to assess the risk encountered by firms operating in emerging countries;
to develop entrepreneurial and cross-border business strategies for the emerging markets;
to analyze the ethical challenges and issues of social responsibility common in emerging markets.

Expected Learning Outcomes

1. to explain the importance of emerging markets for the world economy and international business;
2. to discuss the key elements of the operating environment of the major emerging markets, including their socio-cultural, economic, political and institutional framework and evaluate their implications for international business;
3. to assess business opportunities and risks in emerging markets and recommend appropriate strategies for exploiting these opportunities.

Course Contents

Globalization and international business. Globalization and globalization debate; Main drivers of globalization; Business in the global markets.
International business strategy, company and its international business expansion; Foreign market identification and analysis; International business strategy formulation; Organization and international expedition strategies.
Emerging Markets (EMs): Emerging, developing, and catching up economies. Globalization and Emerging Markets. Economic performance, GDP and emerging markets. Political instability and economic performance. Wealth, productivity and inequality. Demography and wealth. Consumption and first time buyers. Infrastructure.
Markets and Institutions: Understanding the functioning of markets; Barriers to trade and integration of international markets; Governments and markets; Governments and the economy.
Managing Risk in EMs: Defining risk in EM; Expected and unexpected risk; Assessing and managing risk.
Targeting EMs clients: the rich, the middle class and strategies for the Base of Pyramid (BoP).
Emerging Market Multinationals (EMM): Features and Strategies. EMMs; Internationalization of the EMMs.
Business Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability (ERS) in EMs. Cultural differences and relativity of business ethics; Ethical business practices in EMs; Generating social capital and long-term performance; Adopting global standards and best practices.
Operating in Emerging Markets: Competitive strategies in EMs. The determinants of attractiveness and analysis of EM to determine its potential. Strategy formulation and its implementation for succeeding in EMs.

Assessment Elements

Quizzes
There will be quizzes every session (at least 5 quizzes for the course). The quizzes will consist of multiple choice and short open-ended questions, and will cover all lectures, cases, and readings from the previous sessions. The quizzes will be a closed book/closed notes, given during regular class time. The quizzes will be timed and can only be accessed once. In case student does not attend a quiz, points are missed.
Group project
An important part of the course will be a consulting project. Students will work in groups to provide business advices to company’s senior management on a real market entry/expansion issue that company is facing in EMs. The grade for this component of the course will be based on a presentation (including Q&A) and a written report. Additional information will be provided in class. For a written report students should use appropriate formatting and citation style. Assignments are expected to be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m. on the due date. Late reports will not be accepted. Students will receive a grade of zero for failing to correctly e-mail an assignment and on time. This written assignment should be produced in 12-point, Times New Roman type, and 1.5-spaced, with tabs at the beginning of paragraphs, minimum number of pages is 15.
Examination
There will be the final written exam (not meant to be open book or group work). The exam will include multiple choice, open-ended questions and will be timed. The assessment will be based on: (1) Knowledge of theories/ key concepts related to international business; (2) Evidence of critical thinking using comparative approaches in explaining the formation of particular international business strategies; (3) Persuasive writing skills.

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 3rd module
0.2 * Quizzes + 0.3 * Group project + 0.5 * Examination

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Doing business in emerging markets, Cavusgil, S. T., 2013
International business, Peng, M., 2019
The fortune at the bottom of the pyramid : eradicating poverty through profits, Prahalad, C. K., 2005

Recommended Additional Bibliography

International business : the challenge of global competition, Ball, D. A., 2008
International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, Hill, Ch.W.L., 2014

Course Syllabus